KO Insights

KO Insights is a strategic advisory and thought-leadership firm focused on improving human experience at scale in a world shaped by data, digital transformation, and artificial intelligence. Founded in 2014 and led by Kate O’Neill, known globally as the “Tech Humanist,” the company works with leaders to make technology decisions that support both business goals and human needs.

The firm advises Fortune 500 companies, global institutions, and public organisations on future-readiness, AI ethics, meaningful digital transformation, and the impact of emerging technology on people. KO Insights provides keynote speaking, executive workshops, and technology strategy consulting. Its work helps organisations understand the human experience behind technology, align teams around shared goals, and plan long-term strategies that consider both risks and opportunities.

KO Insights has partnered with clients such as Google, the City of Amsterdam, the United Nations COP25 Climate Summit, the United States Postal Service, and many corporations, universities, and non-profits across sectors. Engagements include facilitated keynotes, strategic offsite sessions, innovation workshops, go-to-market strategies, experience design, and advisory work for cities, governments, and fast-growing companies.

The firm supports leaders who are facing challenges around automation, customer experience, ethical AI adoption, data use, digital integration, and large-scale transformation. KO Insights focuses on helping organisations reduce customer acquisition costs, improve retention, strengthen brand alignment, and build more effective long-term systems. Its methodology centres on human-centric strategy, insights from data, integrated online-offline experience design, and clear decision frameworks for complex technology choices.

Kate O’Neill is the author of several books, including What Matters Next, Tech Humanist, A Future So Bright, and Pixels and Place. Her writing and speaking explore the future of work, AI ethics, meaningful human experience, and strategic optimism. Her work has been featured by media outlets such as BBC, WIRED, USA Today, NPR, and others.

KO Insights was established in 2014 by Kate O’Neill with the purpose of helping organisations understand how technology, data, and digital systems affect people. The organisation began as a response to the growing need for guidance as businesses, governments, and institutions faced rapid digital change. From the start, the focus was on helping leaders make decisions that considered both business outcomes and the human experience.

In its early years, KO Insights worked with companies undergoing digital transformation. The organisation supported teams in understanding how data could inform better decisions and how digital systems could be aligned with customer needs. The work included advising on online and offline experience design, examining how automation would affect customers and staff, and helping organisations create strategies for using emerging technology in a responsible and effective way.

As demand for technology strategy grew, KO Insights expanded its work with large global companies, public institutions, and non-profit organisations. The firm began delivering keynote talks, executive workshops, and long-term advisory projects. These engagements covered topics such as AI ethics, integrated digital experiences, the future of work, and preparing organisations for fast technological change. KO Insights also supported leadership teams in developing common language and frameworks for technology decisions.

Over the years, KO Insights worked with Google Brand Studio on future-readiness and human experience strategy, supported the United Nations COP25 Summit with facilitation and insights, advised the Amsterdam Economic Board on digital and city-focused strategies, and guided innovation discussions for YPO Hong Kong. The organisation also worked with universities, healthcare systems, retail brands, start-ups, and civic groups. Projects included customer experience alignment, digital transformation planning, expansion strategy, new product launches, and integrated communication strategies.

Alongside consulting and advisory work, Kate O’Neill produced several books that shaped the organisation’s approach, including Tech Humanist, A Future So Bright, and What Matters Next. These publications strengthened KO Insights’ position as a leading voice on the relationship between technology and humanity.

In recent years, KO Insights has focused on strategic foresight and helping organisations prepare for the long-term impact of artificial intelligence. The firm continues to support leaders through keynotes, consulting, and research on emerging trends. Today, KO Insights operates with a distributed team and a global network of partners, working across industries to help clients understand the risks and opportunities of new technologies. The organisation’s present status reflects its ongoing commitment to improving human experience at scale and supporting leaders in making responsible, future-ready decisions.

The mission of KO Insights is to help organisations make technology decisions that support both business needs and human needs. The organisation works to ensure that data, digital systems, and artificial intelligence are used in ways that improve human experience rather than harm it. KO Insights guides leaders in understanding the impact of technology on people, workplaces, and society. Through advisory work, keynotes, research, and workshops, the organisation helps clients build responsible, clear, and future-ready strategies. The mission is to support decision-making that reduces risk, increases value, and leads to long-term progress that includes everyone.

The vision of KO Insights is to create a future where technology supports human wellbeing at scale. The organisation aims to build a world in which digital transformation, automation, and artificial intelligence are guided by thoughtful leadership and strong ethical practices. KO Insights sees a future where businesses and institutions design systems that work well for the people who use them and for the people affected by them. The long-term goal is to help organisations become future-ready, make better choices, and understand emerging changes. The vision focuses on shaping a world where human experience stays central as technology evolves.

KO Insights and its founder, Kate O’Neill, have received recognition for contributions to technology strategy, human experience, and responsible digital transformation. Kate has been featured as an expert commentator on major platforms such as BBC, NPR, WIRED, and USA Today. 

Kate O’Neill has been shortlisted for the Thinkers50 Digital Thinking Award, which highlights global leaders in management thinking. KO Insights’ work has been trusted by organisations such as Google, the United Nations, and the Amsterdam Economic Board. 

Through books, keynotes, advisory work, and public commentary, KO Insights has earned respect for guiding future-ready decisions and clear thinking about technology’s role in society.

KO Insights offers a range of products and services designed to help organisations make informed, responsible, and future-ready decisions about technology. The focus is on guiding leaders through digital transformation, artificial intelligence, data use, and the wider impact of emerging technologies on people. All services aim to improve human experience at scale while supporting business goals.

One of the core services of KO Insights is keynote speaking. Kate O’Neill delivers talks for conferences, corporate events, leadership retreats, and global forums. These keynotes cover themes such as AI ethics, human-centric digital transformation, data and human behaviour, strategic optimism, the future of work, and how organisations can prepare for rapid technological change. The talks help teams understand complex topics in a clear and practical way, encouraging better conversations and decision-making across the organisation. Keynotes can be delivered in-person, virtually, or as part of panel discussions and fireside chats.

Another major service is technology and experience strategy consulting. KO Insights works closely with leadership teams to examine how data, digital systems, automation, and AI affect their organisation. This includes identifying risks, opportunities, and gaps in strategy. The consulting work often involves analysing customer journeys, reviewing internal processes, mapping online and offline experiences, and creating frameworks that help teams make consistent and clear technology decisions. The goal is to align business goals with human needs and create strategies that support long-term growth.

KO Insights also provides executive workshops and team facilitation. These sessions help leaders understand emerging trends, build shared language around technology, and agree on priorities for transformation. Workshops may focus on future-readiness, ethical technology adoption, data-driven decision-making, integrated experience design, or developing responsible AI practices. Sessions are customised for each organisation and are often used to support new initiatives, strategic planning, or cross-department alignment.

A key product offered by KO Insights is strategic foresight and trend analysis. The firm studies global changes in technology, society, and human behaviour to identify early signals that may affect organisations in the future. These insights support planning for long-term risks and opportunities. Foresight work helps organisations prepare for shifts in automation, workforce needs, regulation, customer expectations, and digital experiences. Many clients use this service to inform innovation programmes or to update leadership on what “comes next” in their industry.

KO Insights also publishes books, articles, and research that serve as ongoing learning tools for leaders. Kate O’Neill’s books, including What Matters Next, Tech Humanist, A Future So Bright, and Pixels and Place, offer practical guidance on ethical technology decisions, strategic optimism, and human-centred experience design. These resources support organisations that want consistent frameworks for responsible innovation.

In addition, KO Insights offers advisory partnerships, where leaders receive ongoing support as they navigate complex transformation work. This may include regular strategy sessions, guidance on specific technology projects, feedback on product development, or advising on communication around digital initiatives.